Berkshire Oktoberfest Lager - Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.

FishGetter

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Brownish colored copper with some cloudyness to it. Minimal head, some visable carbination.
Nose fills with rich camelized malts. Some mild hops peak through with a faint yeasty aroma.
Malts push right up front with seasonal roasted caramel flavors. Next is what I can only describe as the BBC yeast strain flavors. Very dominate and always notiable in a BBC offering. Mild touch of alcohol at end.
Somewhat thin in the mouthfeel. Would expect a bit more for such a seasonal offering.
Not there best offering from BBC. A bit off the mark for a Marzen style brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2010 01:04:45 | More by FishGetter

kmpitz2

Tennessee

3.4/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep golden color with a small white head that falls to a sparse coating over top. Nose is light bready and toasty with a very mild noble hop spiceyness just enough to know it is there. Flavor is light toast with a finish that leads me to think this is a touch old, but not really off. Its closest to a slight sourdough character. Feel is moderate with a light carbonation. Drinkability is okay. Its a pretty standard brew. Not really jumping out as outstanding, but definately drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2005 01:10:48 | More by kmpitz2

blackie

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

appearance: The pour into my imperial pint glass creates a .25" white head. The color of the beer is a dark golden, or light copper. The freshness date on the front label has not been notched.

smell: The first thing I notice is a wierd sour flavor, somewhat vinegar like. It is pretty detracting. Behind that are some light fruity and caramel aromas. Hops are clean, spicy, and light.

mouthfeel: Carbonation is on the lower end of the high range, and the body a medium light.

taste: Again with the sourness, though less like vinegar here. Light caramel malt flavors are balanced with the hop bitterness. Finish is a lingering sourness and bitterness.

drinkability: The highest alcohol content oktoberfest I've had yet. The flavor and aroma are not that great, but it seems pretty drinkable. The alcohol is well hidden for such a light beer.

Obtained this bottle from ppoitras in BIF 24.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2005 23:55:32 | More by blackie

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

3.48/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into my Erdinger weizen glass.

A: Pours a medium, hazy orange with a 1/4 in. head that quickly turns to a frothy lace. The carbonation is lively, but lazy enough near the bottom to give the brew a richer, deeper appearance.

S: Smells of sweet, nutty malts, like the kind you might find in a richer brown ale. There is a little hop spice in the nose, but it's almost all the sweet malt.

T: Sweet and bready, but the sting of alcohol leaves the palate feeling a little bitter. The aftertaste is a little more bready and malty than the initial sip, so the taste lingers for a while, which is good for this marzen, as it's on the richer side.

M: Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied for a marzen. That gives it it some points, but takes away from the overall drinkability somewhat.

D: I'd say this is a nice Oktoberfest to enjoy on a cool night on the patio, admiring a new moon, not one to keep pouring at an evening BBQ or a night of all-night booze camping. One of these big bottles is enough.

Overall, I liked this Oktoberfest, but wasn't crazy about it. I had heard good things about it, and tried it on that principle alone. I'd recommend it to some, but not as a first exposure to the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2007 02:40:31 | More by Gambrinus1184

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a light fizzy head that fades fairly quickly over clear maple brown auburn colored beer.

Nose has sweet malts, toasty malts, some reddish and brown malts, caramel, very light lager fruits, hint of darker toasted malt, and hint of syrups and brown sugar. Nose is more of a brown ale with lager yeast.

Taste is sweet, not quite as sweet as their maibock but sweet, some toasty malts, plenty of caramel and toffee, nutty, light brown toasty malts, hint of very dark almost chocolate malt, sweet syrups with hints of brown sugar, molasses, and candy syrup, just a hint of bitterness on the finish with a sticky sweet finish, caramel and toffee as well as brown malts finish.

Mouth is med bodied, lower but decent enough carb.

Overall not bad, this is a lot sweeter than I remember, almost cloyingly sweet, a nice malt presence, but no hops either. Either my tastes have changed or this batch is much worse than I remember their Oktoberfest being. I hope it's just this batch.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 01:17:33 | More by jlindros

Stimack

New York

3.53/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Brew pours to a somewhat cloudy brown/orange color with a good sized off white head that laves chucks of lace down the sides of the glass. The aroma is strong with malt that highlights a caramel scents while also noticing a sweet smell that does seem to have a bit of a fruit like aroma. Very malty taste that does have a slight off sour note. Not sure if I really like that taste here, but it is not bad. Don’t really notice much hop favor but can notice a slight alcohol taste. Over all this is a fair offering, some what of a let down from BBC as I normally just love everything from them. Still give it a thumbs up but probably will not get this one again, I will stick to my Hacker-Pschorr Octoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2005 02:31:02 | More by Stimack

mostpoetsdo

Rhode Island

3.53/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Looks great, a vibrant orange with big creamy head with craters of carbonation.

S: A sweet malt is met by a lot of booze that is very unexpected, almost overpowering. Has a buttery smell to it as well, an odd combination.

T: Taste matches the nose. Sweet malt, butter, and booze. Also a bit of brown sugar. Something seems off in this beer. Will probably try again to see if it's different.

M: Has a decent smoothness and just the right carbonation, but a bit of alcohol burn.

D: It was tasty, but something might have gone wrong here.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2010 00:48:07 | More by mostpoetsdo

atozymurgy

Maine

3.55/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a large and lasting head, very good retention. Color a brilliant amber/orange. There's a very slight chill haze. Aroma - malty! Some toasted and biscuity notes. No hop aroma detected. Overall malty and clean, though after a sip or two I detect just a hint of sulfur. Flavor is very smooth and malty, almost bready, with a bit of toast. Very full and round taste. Little bitterness and barely a hint of hop flavor. Overall this is satisfying, but not particularly interesting. Body is full and rich, almost chewy, but high CO2 makes it clean.

Overall quite good, and certainly very drinkable. But not really much out of the ordinary. Pick it up if you see it, but don't go out of your way.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2006 12:12:01 | More by atozymurgy

hoppymeal

Michigan

3.55/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark gold to caramel color with a small off white head, mainly clear. Aroma is a little spiced bread along with a good dose of slick sweet malts that show some berry and appley fruity sweetness and also shows a hint of alcohol. Taste is big on the sweet malts and breadiness, a hint of peatiness and apples in the background. Medium in body, slightly slick on the mouth up front but nicely cut by a slightly peppery crispness and a tingle on the tongue. Nice drinkable cool weather beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2007 02:25:19 | More by hoppymeal

bbeerman

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A.. A nice dark golden amber/brown color.

S.. Slightly sweet, but would have liked a stronger smell of malt.

T.. Certainly less malt than I would have expected from this style. Surprised to taste so much hops in this brew. A little disappointed from the lack of strong malt, but still an above average Oktoberfest beer.

M.. Some carbonation, but didn't seem like too much. Felt about right for this style.

O.. An above average Oktoberfest, but definitely not a top five candidate.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 10:08:08 | More by bbeerman

schemb

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This one is actually has some alchohol and body cajones. Pretty dark orange hue. Nice and syrupy, kinda like mixing a maibock and a doublebock in color and weight. Stands up well to kielbasa, mustard, and kraut. Its different from other Octoberfests and certainly not a classic example but I like this subgenre.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2004 17:16:55 | More by schemb

williamherbert

New York

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark orange color, thick and with lots of carbonation. Thick and hazy. Nice half-finger of pure white head.

The smell is malty and rich. Roasted malt with a leafy, slightly musty aroma. Not the freshest thing I've ever whiffed but nice enough. There is some caramel and butterscotch in the smell.

The taste is a heavy malt, sweet but with a bitterness. Caramel and toffee and a mild flowery hop. Butterscotchy but balanced and nice enough.

Feels smooth, milky, buttery. Medium body; creamy too. It's a nice Oktoberfest beer. Really substantial and full-feeling. Still, might be a bit hard to knock a ton of these back in one sitting.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2008 23:40:50 | More by williamherbert

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Split with JLindros. Reviewed from notes.

A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice crystal clear light copper hue with a good one finger off white head that faded to leave a light creamy blanket.

S - Aroma is fairly typical for an oktoberfest. A bit on the malty/bready side for me.

T - Taste is more of the same, caramel (lots of it), sweeter malts, biscuits, slight toffee. Again, a bit too sweet for my tastes.

M - Mouthfeel was fairly solid. Nicer carbonation here little sharp on the tongue.

O - Overall, slightly unimpressed by this one. Its a decent Oktoberfest, but just a bit too sweet for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 22:54:59 | More by rudzud

Dools9

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into nonic pint.

A: Beautiful amber, dark copper color. Lots of active carbonation. Fluffy off white head leaves nice lacing and retains very well.

S: Lots of toasty malt, sweet carmel, buttery. Hops are earthy and herbal.

T: Lots of toasted malt, sugary sweeet caramel, bready, biscuity malts, hops are slightly bitter and more herbal and earthy. Its a bit to sweet for me however

M: Medium, smooth carbonation slight alcohol warmth on throat. Very bodied for the style.

O: Solid, strong octo-brew from BBC. Wasn;t really big on the sweetness however, but still an alright beer. Watch out for the abv though, It'll sneek up on ya.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 02:51:21 | More by Dools9

connecticutpoet

Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This was an amber lager with a large head, but it dissipated quickly and rather loudly.

The aroma was of rich malts, with some deep fruitiness and a small amount of sweetness.

The taste was malty, not bitter, somewhat smooth, but a little grainy. There were hints of hops and the alcohol was noticeable. It was a little too prominent for my tastes... I like it a little bit more subdued.

Not my favorite beer from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2004 03:00:58 | More by connecticutpoet

IBUnit63

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From a bomber into the Red Oak mug...

Heads up very nicely with a 3-finger, ginger-colored head. Clean auburn/amber body and decent lacing.

Mild cinnamon/clove spice on primarily earthy malt profile and subtle grassy hops. For style scent is rather bountiful.

There is a fair amount of earth at first but beneath this is a soothing, caramel.cinnamon strong malt presence that's quite viscous and slightly nutty (hazelnut?). Carbonation addsd tingle to grassy hops with slight syrup-ish alcohol.

Mouthfeel is also a bit on the peanutty side with some earth presence. Full profile provides a bountiful piney kick on the finish.

This is nicely drinkable for the style...a style that to me isn't necessarily the most drinkable, but the earthiness puts it off a little bit - it is an added layer, so it's independent and stands apart from the true profile of the lager, which makes it a little confusing but actually makes it easier to evaluate the other characteristics of the offering. Still, some Beautiful Chemistry is in order.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2008 03:54:20 | More by IBUnit63

JimmieFrisbee

Rhode Island

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a clear amber/orange from a 22 oz. bomber -- almost matches the orange label. Man, I love the fall when it comes to beer. Fairly small head, just enough though.

Nice malty smell, kind of sweet almost like caramel. Mmmm...

Taste has that malty caramelly flavor I was getting in the nose, and also a little kick of alcohol -- something I could probably do without. Overall, a nice almost roasty smoothness that is sweet with the warming finish.

Easily carbonated, feels clean in the mouth. Not as drinkable as I like my oktoberfests to be as a result of the higher alcohol content, but still no challenge to drink. The more I drink and the warmer it gets, the less noticiable the alcohol becomes. Still, this beer makes a better sipper than a big gulper.

I typically love just about anything BBC puts out, and this one came with high praise. I'm a little bit disappointed, I guess I was hoping for something a little more easily drinkable. Not a bad beer at all, but not quite what I was hoping for.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2009 17:21:34 | More by JimmieFrisbee

Citadel82

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours clear amber/copper with a thick creamy head that rapidly receded leaving thick lacing. Slightly sweet malt, floral, fruity scent that does not prepare you for the first sip. First sip carmel, malt then strong alcohol with a long bitter finish. The alcohol is really quite pronounced at first but receded as my palate became accustomed to seeking out the other flavors. buttery/toffee?Not like any Marzen I have ever tasted. Did I mention the alcohol. Still a great beer. I will seek more out in VT next week.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2004 02:31:27 | More by Citadel82

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this Bier this past Sunday, on a glorious late summer afternoon outside. Poured from a 22oz bottle, which had a best before area on the label yet nothing was notched.

Pours a deep copper color; very rich and solid, with a slight haze within. Low, steady carbonation rises up, towards the creamy, 1" tannish hued head. Said head slowly ebbs, to about a steady 1/4", with decent lacing sticking around. Aroma has bready, crackery malt; not overly strong yet still solid. Minimal hops evident. Body a medium all the way, yet with a bit of prickliness on the tongue without being distracting.

Flavor has a reasonable amount of malt, though less than suggested by the aroma. Shortly after a slight, subtle fruitiness becomes evident. Sort of a green apple aspect, which actually lingers a bit, much more than any malt. Found this to be an odd component of an OFest. Not bad, but nothing like the Spaten (vom Faß) I had the previous day.

Prosit!!

overall: 3.8
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | mouthfeel: 3.5 | drinkability: 3.5

835

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2005 18:33:56 | More by Bierman9

Pauly2X

Wisconsin

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Ineedabeerhere for trade on this.

A- Slightly hazy copper, one finger head.

S- Sweet caramel, slightly overpowered by toasted malts.

T- Lightly sweet caramel on the take transitions to a toasty/nutty middle. There's a slight warming note before the smooth hop finish.

M- No problems here.

D- The bomber sized bottle will pose no problem.

A good Oktoberfest. Check it out if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2008 13:37:36 | More by Pauly2X

BranfordBound

Connecticut

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle marked as best before March, 2012.

Nice pour here, great voluminous head with nice lacing and a deep, amber body.

Smells of rich german malts mostly, some caramel lingers and gives off some lager undertones.

Really potent stuff here, very malty with a touch of earthy hops at the end. A bit of alcohol heat makes for a touch of spice sensation.

Heavy with some burn.

Overall very tasting, although this one seems to be much stronger and heavier than the ones coming from Germany.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 22:25:12 | More by BranfordBound

gotbeer

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is not what I expected from an O-fest brew, but it is great all the same.

It's more like a strong ale or APA than an O-fest. The smell has a hint of hops to it, and it looks great in the glass.

It has a nice hop bite with a great malt balance. It's well rounded and tasty. It's drinkability is quite good as well.

A great beer if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2005 01:34:25 | More by gotbeer

Jayli

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Consumed 10/9

A: This beer pours a slight hazy deep burnt orange with a 2 finger off white creamy rocky head. Head recedes at a moderate pace and leaves very little to no lacing.

S: Nose is heavy on the malts, caramel malts mostly. There are hints of grains and breadiness in the nose as well.

T: Tastes are abundant of sweet caramel malts but quite a bit of spice that I didn't pick up in the nose. Very, very sweet up front almost blocks out the spicing. Middle has some toasted malts, grains, and biscuit backing. Finish has some hops in it, but blended with some more sweet malts. Leaves a very sweet aftertaste that is slightly distracting.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation, crisp up front with a smooth finish.

D: This is a decent beer, though the sweet aftertaste for me wouldn't qualify this as a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2009 01:58:38 | More by Jayli

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap poured into an 8oz alt glass.

Pours a nice amber color with a small thin Light brown head. Nose is malty and sweet, a bit fruity.

Taste is a bit sweet an fruity which I don't love. But it's still got a nice maltiness that's really satisfying, light carbonation. Very easy drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2010 22:01:05 | More by kingcrowing

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-pours a dark reddish color with a bubbly pure white head.

S-pale malts, lightly toasted grain, caramel, hay like hops with a touch of citrus.

T-light pale malts with a touch of grain and lots of malt sweetness. notes of caramel and apple with a bit of cinnamon and brown sugar. light herbal hops and citrus with a fair bit of bitterenss.

M-medium body very clean and crisp.

D-very sweet and tasty, well balanced and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 18:26:54 | More by cpetrone84